Posted by Raul on April 26, 2011
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1958 Messerschmitt KR200
Are microcars making a comeback?
From the 40’s, and during the 50’s and 60’s there was a full line of manufactures creating all sort of very small, cheap cars. The intention was to reach a market of people who didn’t have the money to buy a “normal” car and to pay for the highly priced fuel in Europe.
These so named microcars were part of the scene in cities and roads of the European world, and some of them even made it to the US. But while fuel prices here were low, and roads long, microcars didn’t stand a chance against the big, luxury local vehicles of the time, so those little examples of basic transportation became simply curious toys, if not the target of all kind of jokes.
"Yes officer, it IS a car!"
Now we are faced with increasing fuel prices and crowded cities, so many people look at European models that might have something to offer for the local roads. So far the VW Beatle made a comeback, together with the Mini (under a different manufacturer), the Smart Car, and now it seems the Fiat 500 will be roaming American roads by 2012.
These are not the same as they used to be of course. These are updated models that meet all the requirements for new cars to be legal in this country, so what once was a small, simple, affordable transport vehicle, has become a luxury; highly technological device that reflects modern’s times.
My 1957 BMW Isetta 300
I’ve always been fascinated by small cars, to the point that I own a little Isetta 300, so when I heard of the Fiat 500 comeback, I had to go and see it with my own eyes.
It was a pleasant surprise to see that little car among the other “monsters” at the showroom. Retaining the simple lines inside and out; small but roomy enough, and even with some luxuries included such as electric sunroof and power windows.
I was ecstatic for the availability of the vehicle in a short time, and even the crazy thought of eventually buying one in the future did cross my mind…until I saw a picture of both; the old and the new Fiat 500 standing side by side.
Fiat 500 "New vs Old"
What happened to the little car concept?!
If you take a look at the picture of both cars, you’ll see that there’s nothing small about the new one, well, in all fairness, the original one was classified as a “microcar” so I guess the new one could still be considered a “small” car. But for someone like me, that like the original concept of the microcar (think of a scooter with a body for rainy days), the excitement of a brand new microcar available for purchase in the present, dissolved like the colors of the picture under a heavy rain, and floating down the street drain it disappeared once more.
I guess is still about restoring the little one to make it shine once again in the presence of others; those who remain in the race of incorporating more and more elements, size and weight, as the way of natural growth nowadays.
So no…microcars are not coming back… 
Raul
(Sigh!)
Posted by Raul on April 19, 2011
A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to visit the Denver Auto Show, and check out the latest additions to the market by the different car manufacturers. It wasn’t the best or more extensive presentation that could be but, hey…it’s Denver, not Paris!
Besides the usual new models that will replace the actual ones now on the road, there were some nicely restored collector cars (two or three), some very aggressively adapted pick up trucks (those you need a ladder to get inside), and a couple of chrome and leather carrying bikes…you know…those that like to imitate thunder in a sunny day.
What surprised me the most was the very commonly added computer screens and extensive array of buttons and controls over the center console in the majority of the vehicles. It seems the convenience of centralizing all kind of information (GPS, vehicle status, environmental information, climate control, music selection, etc) has become the norm for the new models, only denied to those basic and cheaper models of the line. Those vehicles also had several buttons located in the steering wheel to control the stereo and the cruise control system.
Do we read the owner’s manual in every device we buy? At the other hand, is it a car or the Millennium Falcon?
I can understand the need for information; personally I like to know what’s going on with the car at all times while driving, but it seems too much for the majority of trips people make (including myself).
It becomes like a very expensive and technological decoration, to make the car look and the driver feel of driving the “latest”, no matter what it is. Driving around with a very cool screen ON in the center console of the car and a complete array of buttons and knobs, surrounded by a tiny line of neon light: The future is here!
Does anybody use all the possibilities those system gives?
I must admit, it looks pretty futuristic; the perfect console to impress friends, family and sporadic new acquaintances! But the point is; are all these new systems a necessity or just the elements to turn a transport device into a luxury toy that appeals to our child senses? Has it become a way for us to show off when there’s no other element of pride to show?
Do we buy our pride in comfortable monthly payments?
Makes me wonder…
What’s your take on this?
Raul
Posted by Raul on March 24, 2011
While the image is just a reflection, the entity standing there could be considered the separation of itself from the body. There’s no physical existence in the image in the mirror, yet we can see it standing there, looking back to us.
Any intention, thought or feeling that makes us slightly twitch our face will be replicated by the image in the mirror, so we can see it is our intentions, thoughts and feelings that are also there, being part of the image.
A perfect copy of the physical body without becoming physically existent!
Yet, that perfect copy of a body without a body, although capable of showing physical behavior, doesn’t have any physical possibilities. We are ourselves in the image in the mirror, yet, while being there, we exist without a physical body for a moment.
What if we take the physical body that creates the image in the mirror and leave just the image as the true existence of the being? Wouldn’t we be capable of thoughts and feelings, without the possibility of physical sensations? No pain, no hunger, no sicknesses, never getting old. A permanent representation of a non-existent physical shape.
When we see ourselves in a mirror, we could consider the image standing there as the separation of the entity we are, from the body where we are contained.
How will we use the presented possibility then? Will we consider the option of giving a bigger validation to thoughts and feelings rather than physical sensations? And with it, the need of dedicating time to the feeding of the image in the mirror rather than feeding the physical body that creates the image?
Just a crazy thought to get you a little confused 
Raul
Posted by Raul on March 21, 2011
Before, we dreamed of seeing some place with our own eyes, but now it is possible to see it from our own place using technology, so no need to travel anymore. With the increasing technology that also becomes affordable to the masses, no longer we need to “go get” the information and the entertainment; now they come to us without the need from us to move anywhere.
It is an outstanding advance that allows us to embrace and do more in our lives. We can become very productive and knowledgeable in almost any field we decide to do so. What we cannot reach easily can be brought to us by technology, making possible to use our time in more efficient ways, leading us to have more productive lives.
But what if, instead of using these marvels of science and technology to increase our knowledge and productivity, we use it to reduce our speed and self pressure to grow? (Based on the instinct of always taking the shortest path)
For the children of the change, those who were young when all this technology still didn’t exist, it is easy to adapt to some of the benefits while still keeping the desire to do “some stuff” in the old physical ways, like traveling and “being there”; seeing with our own eyes; feeling the breeze in our skin and having the possibility to “touch” the place (like grabbing a handful of sand) and smelling the flowers, trees and ground on a rainy day.
But what would happen to the children of the future, who are being born immersed in this increasingly technology flooded medium, and start their first steps in walking together with their first steps in login in? For them it’ll be a natural thing to see a new place through a computer screen rather than being there.
At one hand we can understand the point of touring, lets say, Ireland, seeing what is too see in a screen rather than in person. In the shortest amount of time it’ll be possible to see the most places at different times of the year (each one with its individual beauty); listening to the sound of the country side and the cities; listening to the voices of the local with their unique accent; taking a quick look to the traditional cuisine and the newest preferences of the people living there.
We can do all this without the expenses of travel tickets, hotels, tours, etc. We also can avoid the “suffering” of temperature changes, wind, rain, and all the typical experiences associated with traveling. No lost baggage!
And with the new technologies to come, we will also be able to smell the scents, perceive the breeze and experience the place in a more complete way. Right now communication systems use the senses of vision and hearing, but I’m sure pretty soon they will find ways to add the senses of touch, smell and taste to the repertoire available to computer technology.
But if we extend the trend to the future, wouldn’t be possible to have a big number of people who has become adapted to this new society, where the external world that used to surround a person becomes an enclosed, climate controlled room that has all the connections and possibilities of remote interaction with the world?
Think of it like the highly technologic suit in the movie “Iron Man”, only this enclosed environment of protection and interaction with the external world just doesn’t move. Like becoming the yolk of an egg, surrounded by the technological feeding white, and protected from the world with a surrounding shell. A world and a society of separated “units” connected by technology.
I know there’ll be always the people who will prefer the actual physical interaction, leaving the technological resources as an aid, rather than an end. But what about the big majority that isn’t well guided while being raised, and becomes easy prey for the technology providers?
Looking around to young people who can easily find answers to the most strange questions and situations using a computer; who prefer to see a new place in the screen rather than having to “endure” a physical trip to the actual place, I can’t stop to wonder how the future society will be.
What trends do you see in the actual use of technology?
Do you identify more with the “Children of the Change” or the “Children of the Future”?
Raul
Posted by Raul on March 13, 2011
It is sad to see how more and more houses become empty, with a sign “For Sale”, waiting to be occupied again.
We could compare the economy of a society with walking. When times are complicated and the economy is bad for the majority, it’ll be like walking uphill -lots of efforts to cover very little ground.
But for the past several decades in the US the economy was at continuous growth, becoming a slight but increasing downhill walk for the people.
“Only a slight amount of energy is required to get in motion when walking in a flat, level surface. Once in motion, the amount of energy required is even smaller”
By the simplification and increased efficiency in many areas of work by the companies leading the economy, more and more was imposed the “learn at the job” structure and mentality. It worked well for several decades, but the price tag is a society that doesn’t consider or even hold, the need for a strict and pushing educational system.
“A downhill walk requires us to reduce the amount of energy applied in order to remain in motion. Less energy to acquire the same original intended result”
By consuming, thus generating movement in the market, the economic growth became independent of the production needs. A system that feed itself in its own circular motion, based in buying and discarding to buy more. The temptation of reaching dreams by credit became the flag and promotional tactics of corporations in search for bigger profits.
“Walking in a downhill, taking more and more ground at a faster speed becomes a temptation due to the very small amount of energy required”
Having the possibility of acquiring more and expensive items no longer was a privilege of the wealthy. Every one with a decent credit could “afford” by credit the possession of luxury items that would reinforce his/her image and self esteem.
“At first, gaining speed and covering more ground faster becomes intoxicating and motivating for having more”
By the time momentum has been gained, the elements of luxury became a standard need, rather than the luxury they suppose to be. The need for reaching then the next step became the norm in a cycle repeating itself time and time again.
But the economic system, relying in the continuous movement of a circular process of consuming, like a wheel spinning faster and faster until it reaches speeds that set it out of control, started to fall apart, disintegrating the basis of the economic system.
“Running downhill then becomes scary and the realization for the need of slowing down to a safer speed takes in”
The level of expenses incurred in became too much for the capabilities of the transforming economic system, so people had to adjust to new standards already forgotten, or simply considered “sub-standard”.
The amount of credit taken, based in an economic system that didn’t suppose to change, created a burden on people living at a dreamed social level. But credit incurred in (mortgage, car payments, etc) couldn’t be discarded so easily.
“Running downhill we realize we are going to fast for safety, but it’s too late to regain control, and only the attempt of just not falling while running scared by the situation is the only option”
The once high life by credit became a continuous struggle for survival. Deterioration of the luxury elements by not being able to renew as often as the economic system suggested, became the first signs of the end of the party, the awakening of the dream.
From then on, for many it has become just a continuous fight to remain “alive” financially, not knowing when the personal situation will finally collapse, and throw them into the unknown.
“Running downhill at an uncontrollable speed, waiting for the moment were we know we will fall and get badly hurt, but also know it’ll be the only way to stop this runaway situation. We just don’t want to face the moment, so we keep trying harder to keep up, until we succumb by exhaustion and total lack of control”
Raul
